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What actually holds the world together? At first glance, solids, liquids, and living organisms all rely on the same principle – the attraction between molecules. These forces are so weak that we hardly notice them, yet without them, everything around us would fall apart. They are responsible for the shape of proteins, the structure of crystals, and the stability of the substances that make up our world. The mutual attraction and interaction between molecules has been known for a long time. The team led by Radek Marek from CEITEC Masaryk University has now shown that this attraction partly involves electron sharing – a mechanism well known within individual molecules.
Why don’t things around us fall apart?
Because atoms and molecules are connected by bonds that prevent them from breaking apart. Some of these bonds are strong and lasting, others only temporary, but together they form a stable network that gives solids their shape, liquids their cohesion, and living cells their structure.
Why do these “invisible” forces matter?
Because they determine HOW molecules join, recognize each other, and interact. These interactions affect how drugs bind to receptors, how DNA folds, or how new materials are formed. A deeper understanding of these bonds allows scientists to fine-tune their nature and design substances with specific properties – such as safer medicines or more efficient catalysts.
Why are scientists studying this now?
Because today’s instruments, such as magnetic resonance, supported by computer-based methods, can look in great detail even into the space between molecules. Thanks to them, scientists can reveal what forces act between molecules and how they share electrons – in other words, how matter holds together. These modern technologies and insights are moving chemistry, biology, and medicine toward smarter, purpose-designed solutions.
Source: Chemical Science (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2025)
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